Jana's improvement

[Skeets]

I'm not really surprised. Jana has been getting better with each and every game. Sunday showed she's not at her ceiling yet. This kid has some kind of upside. Consider that SCar is not some BE team.

The cross over was beautiful. But here's what could get me in trouble. Was it purposeful or accidental? It looked just a little bit awkward to me, but maybe that's how a cross over looks when a 6'5" kid does it. Who was the most surprised? Obviously, the kid who was guarding Jana. Probably never saw that move from a center before.

 

[oldude]

As much as Jana has improved this season, I think we’ve only seen the “tip of the Great Pyramid.” Jana has a wonderful skill set. She can put the ball on the floor, score with either hand and knock down outside shots all the way to the arc.

The more she plays, the more comfortable she will become. The more comfortable she becomes, the more we will see her expand her game. It’s just a matter of time.

 

[huskeynut]

I'm not really surprised. Jana has been getting better with each and every game. Sunday showed she's not at her ceiling yet. This kid has some kind of upside. Consider that SCar is not some BE team.

The cross over was beautiful. But here's what could get me in trouble. Was it purposeful or accidental? It looked just a little bit awkward to me, but maybe that's how a cross over looks when a 6'5" kid does it. Who was the most surprised? Obviously, the kid who was guarding Jana. Probably never saw that move from a center before.

As I said in an earlier post, that crossover is in her arsenal. No hesitating, no thinking. Just react and go. We are just seeing the tip of the iceberg as to what Jana is capable of. And the drive that was stopped by a bogus travel call is also part of her arsenal.

 

[Basingstoke]

I can't wait for her to add a baby hook around the basket ala Taylor Jones...

 

[Bone Dog]

Ok, now I'm pissed... or maybe not. I complained above about that whistle in the opening possession Sunday for traveling. Just now I was watching a replay of the UCLA-USC game and the analyst is praising Betts for drawing a crowd in low post and hitting a cutter -- and she does a good job getting the pass off -- but she shuffles her feet before she does it. Similar plays happen two more times and I think she shuffled her feet on at least one more of them [the camera doesn't get a good view of her feet on the third one]. Is Betts getting the benefit of the doubt on travel calls from the B1G refs? Because Jana certainly isn't getting any sort of break from anyone's refs. I know, she has traveled on occasion. But if Betts is getting a break, shouldn't Jana not be getting false whistles at least?

And I know, it's not on purpose. I sometimes wonder if the refs are unused to seeing bigs drive through the lane and so they overreact or anticipate and make mistakes. In other respects, I think Jana has gotten an easy whistle on fouls. She inadvertently poked Feagin in the eye Sunday and the refs didn't even bother looking at it again. They knew it was incidental contact. And she's gotten some blocks that could have been whistled.

 

[Charliebball]

I'm hoping for consistently good play from Jana.......her shots may not always fall but her passing, screening, defense and rebounding need to be solid in every game going forward..........her improved play could impact UConn's season more than many think......

 

[MooseJaw]

I'm just guessing it may still be a little mental hurdle, but I hope that last game convinced her she'll be ok.

Agree 100%, it's simple the light either goes on or it doesn't. It appears in the SC game the light came on. The hope at this point is that the light stays on.

 

[Kat]

Jana wouldn't be at UConn if she wasn't a talented player. However, it has happened, sometimes, that a talented player bumps heads with the coaching staff during that first year on the court. I think that's what was going on here. Jana would make a mistake, make a needless foul, argue with the referee, etc., and she'd get yanked by Geno for not doing things the UConn way. Eventually, it works out. Stewie and Nika offer proof of that. Jana is on board and on her way.

 

[MSGRET]

Jana wouldn't be at UConn if she wasn't a talented player. However, it has happened, sometimes, that a talented player bumps heads with the coaching staff during that first year on the court. I think that's what was going on here. Jana would make a mistake, make a needless foul, argue with the referee, etc., and she'd get yanked by Geno for not doing things the UConn way. Eventually, it works out. Stewie and Nika offer proof of that. Jana is on board and on her way.

I think it's more like she gets frustrated because the fouls that she gets called on are not called when the opposing players do the same to her.

 

[WiseWillie]

Kara W must have been excited!

Would have loved to see Kara at the half talking about Jana. Frankly, would love to see her talking with Jana on SNY before they sign off for good. Big girl to big girl. She's been there and knows what it takes.

 

[Vowelguy]

2 steps forward, 2 steps back

 

[hookshot]

Ok, now I'm pissed... or maybe not. I complained above about that whistle in the opening possession Sunday for traveling. Just now I was watching a replay of the UCLA-USC game and the analyst is praising Betts for drawing a crowd in low post and hitting a cutter -- and she does a good job getting the pass off -- but she shuffles her feet before she does it. Similar plays happen two more times and I think she shuffled her feet on at least one more of them [the camera doesn't get a good view of her feet on the third one]. Is Betts getting the benefit of the doubt on travel calls from the B1G refs? Because Jana certainly isn't getting any sort of break from anyone's refs. I know, she has traveled on occasion. But if Betts is getting a break, shouldn't Jana not be getting false whistles at least?

And I know, it's not on purpose. I sometimes wonder if the refs are unused to seeing bigs drive through the lane and so they overreact or anticipate and make mistakes. In other respects, I think Jana has gotten an easy whistle on fouls. She inadvertently poked Feagin in the eye Sunday and the refs didn't even bother looking at it again. They knew it was incidental contact. And she's gotten some blocks that could have been whistled.

Travel which involve too many baby steps on a move in the deep post most often goes uncalled. Travel further out which typically involves a hesitation and go are most frequently called. It's like pornography, it's difficult to define but you know it when you see it. Most every travel call against Jana has been of the hesitation and go type. I find myself saying travel even before the whistle is blown - it just looks like a travel, however subtle. Jana, often hesitates and then moves too quickly, but should grow out of it. Basketball success is largely about the quality of your hands and feet (think Collier and Strong). Not sure about Jana at this point, we'll see.

 

[MSGRET]

Travel which involve too many baby steps on a move in the deep post most often goes uncalled. Travel further out which typically involves a hesitation and go are most frequently called. It's like pornography, it's difficult to define but you know it when you see it. Most every travel call against Jana has been of the hesitation and go type. I find myself saying travel even before the whistle is blown - it just looks like a travel, however subtle. Jana, often hesitates and then moves too quickly, but should grow out of it. Basketball success is largely about the quality of your hands and feet (think Collier and Strong). Not sure about Jana at this point, we'll see.

That move is not called in International play to include the World Games and the Olympics. In most of the men's game and the pro's it is not called.

 

[uconnfan68]

She took a half step back tonight. Shot was (way) off. Rebounded and ran ok. Announcers pointed out balance issues with contact, and they’re spot on.

 

[hookshot]

That move is not called in International play to include the World Games and the Olympics. In most of the men's game and the pro's it is not called.

Agree, the pros gave up on calling travel many years ago; in the judicial world, they would call it jury nullification

 

[Skeets]

Ok, now I'm pissed... or maybe not. I complained above about that whistle in the opening possession Sunday for traveling. Just now I was watching a replay of the UCLA-USC game and the analyst is praising Betts for drawing a crowd in low post and hitting a cutter -- and she does a good job getting the pass off -- but she shuffles her feet before she does it. Similar plays happen two more times and I think she shuffled her feet on at least one more of them [the camera doesn't get a good view of her feet on the third one]. Is Betts getting the benefit of the doubt on travel calls from the B1G refs? Because Jana certainly isn't getting any sort of break from anyone's refs. I know, she has traveled on occasion. But if Betts is getting a break, shouldn't Jana not be getting false whistles at least?

And I know, it's not on purpose. I sometimes wonder if the refs are unused to seeing bigs drive through the lane and so they overreact or anticipate and make mistakes. In other respects, I think Jana has gotten an easy whistle on fouls. She inadvertently poked Feagin in the eye Sunday and the refs didn't even bother looking at it again. They knew it was incidental contact. And she's gotten some blocks that could have been whistled.

Doesn't even come close to the game (I don't remember which one) where the kid with the ball picks up 1 foot and wipes her hand on the bottom of her sneaker and the does the same thing with the other hand and sneaker, all the while holding the ball. A walk? Of course not, otherwise it would have been called...

 

[mainerhuski]

Everyone should remember that Jana never played high school basketball, she only played on the Egyptian National teams. Here father was her only coach and international play is different then high school. She had to get used to playing a different type of basketball with a different set of rules. Then add in the almost year and a half of no organized basketball it would take a little more time to get into the groove of things.

She is steadily improving almost every game while getting used to college play. One thing for certain she is called for too many touch fouls while she is being pushed, shoved and even hacked almost every time she either tries to establish herself down low or goes to the basket with too many no calls.

Jana def takes a beating down low & gets called for what seems like a lot less contact than she has to put up with.

 

[donalddoowop]

Doesn't even come close to the game (I don't remember which one) where the kid with the ball picks up 1 foot and wipes her hand on the bottom of her sneaker and the does the same thing with the other hand and sneaker, all the while holding the ball. A walk? Of course not, otherwise it would have been called...

It should have been called. She lifted her pivot foot without putting the ball on the floor.

 

[oldhusky]

Jana wouldn't be at UConn if she wasn't a talented player. However, it has happened, sometimes, that a talented player bumps heads with the coaching staff during that first year on the court. I think that's what was going on here. Jana would make a mistake, make a needless foul, argue with the referee, etc., and she'd get yanked by Geno for not doing things the UConn way. Eventually, it works out. Stewie and Nika offer proof of that. Jana is on board and on her way.

I wonder a bit about how this clash of roles is going. Jana may picture herself as a multi-talented forward. A big with a good handle that can drive to the basket, incorporating various spin moves, and shoot from the three occasionally. On her teams she was far more the number 1 option than even Paige is on this on.

Geno has apparently defined her as a low post C period. In terms of what this team needs most, he is probably correct, but whether Jana is allowed to expand her game, not really expand, but just do what she has done previously against much less competition, is in question I think.

I presume Geno has largely taken 3's off the table for her. Maybe foul line jumpers if not guarded too, although I would hope she could in time hit enough of those to make it a weapon. The area I think Geno should cut her some slack on, is drives to the basket, where for her size she is remarkably good, but it might come with more turnovers than Geno can stand.

Her previous teams needed her to be a volume scorer, and to show all her scoring versatility. At Uconn her efforts need to reach a high level of efficiency with minimal turnovers, or they will be discouraged. The learning curve in the post will continue, but if she can be good enough at high post jump shots if unguarded, and mix in a few drives to the hoop, her offensive upside is so much higher.

 

[Bone Dog]

I wonder a bit about how this clash of roles is going. Jana may picture herself as a multi-talented forward. A big with a good handle that can drive to the basket, incorporating various spin moves, and shoot from the three occasionally. On her teams she was far more the number 1 option than even Paige is on this on.

Geno has apparently defined her as a low post C period. In terms of what this team needs most, he is probably correct, but whether Jana is allowed to expand her game, not really expand, but just do what she has done previously against much less competition, is in question I think.

I presume Geno has largely taken 3's off the table for her. Maybe foul line jumpers if not guarded too, although I would hope she could in time hit enough of those to make it a weapon. The area I think Geno should cut her some slack on, is drives to the basket, where for her size she is remarkably good, but it might come with more turnovers than Geno can stand.

Her previous teams needed her to be a volume scorer, and to show all her scoring versatility. At Uconn her efforts need to reach a high level of efficiency with minimal turnovers, or they will be discouraged. The learning curve in the post will continue, but if she can be good enough at high post jump shots if unguarded, and mix in a few drives to the hoop, her offensive upside is so much higher.

Jana’s high school skill set is similar to what Dorka brought to UConn. So it’s not like Geno is opposed in principle. But as people have observed after watching her game in person, her foot speed is not great. If she can improve in that area, perhaps she can expand her game.

I’d be surprised if she wasn’t aware of the difference between Egyptian high school competition and what she’s seeing in D1. It may be frustrating to feel that you’re not quick enough, especially in the aftermath of an injury. Now it’s up to Jana to find her motivation in the situation.

Just for contrast, other bigs like Betts or Lee are slow-footed and don’t really have a developed midrange game or the ability to drive the lane. But their low post skills are very well developed. Beers has a very good midrange jumper and this opens things up in the lane allowing her to drive the lane and maneuver despite not having great foot speed. Prince also has a good midrange game and is much quicker than most bigs. All of them are good rim protectors.

I suspect what Geno tells Jana is that she isn’t ready to play the game Dorka could and that she used to play in high school. And she probably sees the truth of it. But I have a feeling she could end up a lot closer to being capable of it next year. Maybe the best comparison would be to Stef Dolson, who also lacked foot speed when she arrived and was apparently very frustrated as a freshman by how limited her game was in the context of D1. But by her junior year she’d expanded her game to include shooting and passing from the high post as well as the occasional 3 pointer. She was never as quick as Aaliyah or Liv would be. But she was very strong and sure handed and the range of her shots opened up a lot for her in the low post.

Liv is an interesting comparison. She was always much quicker than most bigs. She didn’t have a great midrange game, not nearly as good as Aaliyah’s became, but it had to be respected and opened up the lane for her. She also became an excellent high post passer, which became practically a signature of Geno’s offense in her time at Storrs — Liv stationed at the top of the key with ball.

Jana will never be as quick as Liv. She might develop other parts of her game and could become a better midrange shooter. I suspect Geno would like to use her as a high post passer and I imagine he’d want to see her driving the lane eventually. This is a possible trajectory of her development and one Geno has encouraged several times over the past few decades. And for now, he’s focusing on improving her low post skills: the basics like boxing out, not bringing the ball low, kicking the ball out of a double team, and so on.

 

[ERWUC65]

Jana’s high school skill set is similar to what Dorka brought to UConn. So it’s not like Geno is opposed in principle. But as people have observed after watching her game in person, her foot speed is not great. If she can improve in that area, perhaps she can expand her game.

I’d be surprised if she wasn’t aware of the difference between Egyptian high school competition and what she’s seeing in D1. It may be frustrating to feel that you’re not quick enough, especially in the aftermath of an injury. Now it’s up to Jana to find her motivation in the situation.

Just for contrast, other bigs like Betts or Lee are slow-footed and don’t really have a developed midrange game or the ability to drive the lane. But their low post skills are very well developed. Beers has a very good midrange jumper and this opens things up in the lane allowing her to drive the lane and maneuver despite not having great foot speed. Prince also has a good midrange game and is much quicker than most bigs. All of them are good rim protectors.

I suspect what Geno tells Jana is that she isn’t ready to play the game Dorka could and that she used to play in high school. And she probably sees the truth of it. But I have a feeling she could end up a lot closer to being capable of it next year. Maybe the best comparison would be to Stef Dolson, who also lacked foot speed when she arrived and was apparently very frustrated as a freshman by how limited her game was in the context of D1. But by her junior year she’d expanded her game to include shooting and passing from the high post as well as the occasional 3 pointer. She was never as quick as Aaliyah or Liv would be. But she was very strong and sure handed and the range of her shots opened up a lot for her in the low post.

Liv is an interesting comparison. She was always much quicker than most bigs. She didn’t have a great midrange game, not nearly as good as Aaliyah’s became, but it had to be respected and opened up the lane for her. She also became an excellent high post passer, which became practically a signature of Geno’s offense in her time at Storrs — Liv stationed at the top of the key with ball.

Jana will never be as quick as Liv. She might develop other parts of her game and could become a better midrange shooter. I suspect Geno would like to use her as a high post passer and I imagine he’d want to see her driving the lane eventually. This is a possible trajectory of her development and one Geno has encouraged several times over the past few decades. And for now, he’s focusing on improving her low post skills: the basics like boxing out, not bringing the ball low, kicking the ball out of a double team, and so on.

It appears that the foot speed and perhaps balance are issues with Jana at this time. It is entirely possible that is still due to the mental reservations brought on by her injury. She struggles in a open court transition game against smaller defenders (Seton Hall), but is much better in a more traditional low post situation (less movement) like against SC. It is reasonable to assume this will not change much for the remainder of this year and her value probably will be determined by the type of opposition in the tournament. A summer of conditioning and training which I am sure she will get will help immensely and she will need that because next year there will be Gandy, Ice and Ayanna all vying for that position.

 

[Bone Dog]

It appears that the foot speed and perhaps balance are issues with Jana at this time. It is entirely possible that is still due to the mental reservations brought on by her injury. She struggles in a open court transition game against smaller defenders (Seton Hall), but is much better in a more traditional low post situation (less movement) like against SC. It is reasonable to assume this will not change much for the remainder of this year and her value probably will be determined by the type of opposition in the tournament. A summer of conditioning and training which I am sure she will get will help immensely and she will need that because next year there will be Gandy, Ice and Ayanna all vying for that position.

You make a good point. Though I doubt Gandy will take any minutes from Jana next season. Ice and Ayanna are very likely to.

You also remind me of that 2021-22 season when we had a very big roster, with Liv Dorka Aaliyah Amari and Piath. Only the first 3 had success, but it was a big group altogether. And Geno often played two bigs at once, including Liv and Dorka together. He hasn't been able to do anything like that since and it's startling to remember those days now. Even just playing Liv or Dorka next to Aaliyah would be such an incredible luxury now. Of course, Liv Dorka and Aaliyah all had good quickness and ran the court really well, so it didn't cost the team much in overall team speed to play a twin towers lineup then.

It's also sad that Geno never got a chance to experiment with Saylor in big lineups before she left. So many missed opportunities.

 

[oldude]

I think some here on the BY are confusing “foot speed” with “footwork” when it comes to Jana. Having watched Betts along with the 2 bigs at TX, it’s pretty clear that Jana has superior foot speed. She runs the court far better than any of them, and when she does make a fluid move in the paint, without thinking about it, she can be dazzling, as when she left SC’s super frosh Joyce Edwards grasping for air with her crossover.

The challenge for Jana is to feel comfortable and instinctive with her back to the basket, something she really didn’t spend a lot of time on growing up in Egypt. It’s currently a work in progress. In the long run I have confidence that Jamelle (the post whisperer) and the rest of the staff will be able to help Jana develop into a formidable low post scorer.

Once Jana develops her “back to the basket” game, she can return to the face up game that she’s more comfortable with: midrange, 3-pt and drives to the basket.

 

[RSHERMVIKES]

Ok, now I'm pissed... or maybe not. I complained above about that whistle in the opening possession Sunday for traveling. Just now I was watching a replay of the UCLA-USC game and the analyst is praising Betts for drawing a crowd in low post and hitting a cutter -- and she does a good job getting the pass off -- but she shuffles her feet before she does it. Similar plays happen two more times and I think she shuffled her feet on at least one more of them [the camera doesn't get a good view of her feet on the third one]. Is Betts getting the benefit of the doubt on travel calls from the B1G refs? Because Jana certainly isn't getting any sort of break from anyone's refs. I know, she has traveled on occasion. But if Betts is getting a break, shouldn't Jana not be getting false whistles at least?

And I know, it's not on purpose. I sometimes wonder if the refs are unused to seeing bigs drive through the lane and so they overreact or anticipate and make mistakes. In other respects, I think Jana has gotten an easy whistle on fouls. She inadvertently poked Feagin in the eye Sunday and the refs didn't even bother looking at it again. They knew it was incidental contact. And she's gotten some blocks that could have been whistled.

Bone Dog- - No the refs just suck big time!
They need a head ref that will hold their feet to the fire!